I just told a breeder that we were planning to use doggy daycare and they reacted very negatively, saying puppies didn't need it, are fine alone during the day, and that it can be harmful. I didn't want to upset them any more by asking them to elaborate. Can anyone explain if this is actually a bad thing?
I think that's a very odd response from the breeder! I think it's got to be better for your puppy to have company, stimulation and a chance to toilet than being left alone all day. Of course you'd want to make sure the daycare place also gives rest periods and supervises the dogs all the time. Someone I know does dog care (for just a few dogs) in her own home and they all seem very relaxed and happy.
Well, bad daycares are bad and good daycares are fantastic! Our daycare takes puppies and it's one of the excellent ones - the puppies are in with other puppies and have a varied but structured day, with training, mental/thinking games, gentle exposure to new experiences, a bit of play and rest times throughout the day. There is a good staff to puppy ratio, with a high level of supervision at all times. I'd trust a new puppy to them in the blink of an eye, 5 days a week. But I'd never send my puppy to a daycare that was an all-day free for all with minimal staff - that's at the bad end of the spectrum. So you simply can't make a blanket assessment of all daycares. A good daycare is a godsend for those of us who work. Check out daycares in your area and just don't mention it to the breeder. Once you have your puppy all decisions are yours to make.
Well I personally wouldn't use doggy day care for a puppy. Unless, I really, really knew them well. Dog care in general is a bit hit and miss. Go to their websites and you read a lot about how much they love dogs, how tired your dog will be when it arrives home, how much fun your dog will have. Then think about what your puppy really needs at this important stage of life. Young dogs actually need a lot of downtime, interspersed with short, supervised training sessions. Some dog care can be a bit manic, lots of dogs barking and running around. I am not saying they are all like that, but it is very important to do your homework first. Labradors can be rather gregarious, so if they think that is is OK to jump, bark and race around with other dogs at dogcare, then it could sabotage your training at home. Or conversely your puppy could feel intimidated by the other dogs. Just a few things to think about, I am sure there are some very good dog care facilities available. We usde a dogwalker when Bramble was a puppy. She would pop in a few times a day, and help out with walks and short teaining sessions with Bramble. So Bramble stayed in her familiar environment. This also helps with toilet training.
I use daycare twice a week. My pup started at about 4 months old just a half day a week for about a month, then probably a day a week for a month and now two days a week. The dogs are looked after in the person's home and she does a variety of things with them. My pup does play a lot but she also sleeps and often sleeps snuggled up with two lab friends she's made. I would prefer her to be at daycare than at home alone all day with me or someone just popping in for a wee break or feed. She pulls my arm off to get to the front door and tries to get through the locked gate before it opens. I agree with others who've said check out the people offering the daycare and make sure you're happy with it.
I agree it depends on your dog and on how the daycare is managed. I have found a good set up for Lucky. The dog sitter doesn't have more than six dogs at a time, they go out for two walks a day, and are in her house the rest of the time, where she makes sure they go to their beds and sleep. They have plenty of downtime and opportunity to rest. She is also thoughtful about introducing the dogs to each other, the dogs meet in the garden where they have more space to get to know each other, before going into the house. My boy can be overexcitable with other dogs and really needs this structure!
Yes, this absolutely. As others have said and described facilities vary. Not that I can find any in the backwaters where I live, but I do think you need people who going to care for your young dog as you would. Personally, I don't think it's right of the breeder to say a puppy is ok alone all day.
We have one round our place, with a very good reputation. On a Friday they do open day, where you can take your pup and don't have to pay as long as you are there to supervise. Friday is their small and puppy dogs. We went a few times, but then stopped. To many dogs not enough supervison by staff. Some of the owners where to busy talking or on mobiles, while the staff had more of an attitude of they have to learn their place. I agree to some extend ie:not every dog is going to be friendly, and a bouncy labrador is not always going to be welcomed by other dogs. But in the end there is a limit to when you have to move dogs along and seperate them. Especially when you can see dogs running away from another one. In the end Vanilla would be like the lonely child in the far corner on a playground. Hence we stopped, as I got the feeling she was not very happy. I always wondered if that is why Vanilla behaves differently with little dogs. She always cowers down when she meets some (depending on breeds), but is getting better. We are lucky in that next door assisted in the early days, and now MIL living with us for a period of time.
I've used daycare for Finn a few times (like once every week or two) and they all vary. I noticed one advertised that they took the dogs on a walk during the day, but I don't think so. When I came to pick him up early nobody was watching the dogs! So, won't be going back there. The one I used today has a nice outdoor area, a pond, a bunch of "playground" stuff, and a bunch of staff supervising the dogs. They gave him a midday 30 minute break and lunch. There's a super luxe one near me that is like the one @Oberon is talking about, but it's about $60 a day! Yeah right! I can't afford that. I've never noticed that Finn has picked up hyperactive habits from daycare. He still doesn't even bark, and you'd think he'd pick that up. He has actually learned to not go up to every dog and just jump on them too. He has become much more polite and careful in his greetings at the dog park. (Although that might be from getting rolled by a few overly rough-playing adult dogs a few times). However I will say that Finn has an extremely confident and stable temperament when it comes to other dogs. I'd definitely say check them out and go investigate the place beforehand...they can be great or not so great. Some places didn't require a temperament test, which I found a bit unnerving.
After much searching I found a day care option for Harley and it turned out to be way too unsupervised. All the dogs were older than her but were still playful and she would have played for hours which we decided would not be good for her. We need a structured environment for her. Cross our fingers, even with her hitting the teens, she is SO well behaved at home. We have a good routine and I think we just hit the jackpot for us, a lab that has energy but not too much. Like this afternoon, I arrived home, let Harls in and had a love and cuddle with her. Within 10 mins she is sleeping on the bed - just happy she is on the bed. When DH gets home they will have a play, a walk and some more play. We will do some training and that is it, she is just with us for the rest of the time.
I really like daycare. It's been my lifesaver. But I don't think I would send Stanley to some of the larger facilities. Stanley goes to a woman's house where she never has More than 3 dogs (including one of her own) and is basically treat like a family member all day. He has two walks, some play then spends the rest of the day cuddled up on the couch. Same as he would at home. Just gives me peace of mind that he's not lonely. Some other days she just picks him up and walks him depending on our schedule. In all honesty I've never noticed any behaviour issues - he does bark when the door goes, but he could've done that anyway and I don't really mind too much. If anything, his recall has got a lot better.
Homer has Gond yo day care since he was 4 months old. We found the day care even before we found the puppy. Our day care is local to us, and Homer stays with them in their house. As they walk the dogs on the common they are limited by how many dogs they can have. We could not have him without day care. I've looked into other day cares, some have great facilities but his car/van journey would be longer and looking more closely there could be a lot of dogs all in different pens. There are many different types if day care. Day care would certainly be a better option than a lonely board puppy.
